Eid couture !

 

UPON sharing our thoughts with Chandona Dewan, she seemed sceptical but as we delved into the matter fur ther, over a cup of piping hot tea, concepts rystallised and ideas took forms. Dewan was simple but we equally understood the pre dicaments associated with the endeavour. Treading on the thin line between fashion faux pas and club-smart, high tea couture was any thing but easy. To transform street side fashion, revamp and trans form what we find popular in wayside markets at Karwan Bazaar, Gulistan and such would require a wand and a few magic spells up Dewan’s sleeves. And she has done excep tionally well. Chandona Dewan is renowned for careful selection of materials she uses for her line of clothes. This time she had to step out of her niche. 

 

Her selection of fabrics for the entire range seemed gaudy at first impression, but once designs took form the flashy look was punctuated with glamour and suave sensuality.

There has been profuse use of brocades and inexpensive katans, nylons, lace, synthetic fabrics from which she had picked from the bazaars at Gulshan and Badda. One easily understood that she was intrigued by the challenge.

For men, she used lace and translucent, synthetic yards, keeping the fabric untouched of embellishments but craftily making collars and pleats with matching brocade.

But it was her transformation of the women wears that grabs the attention. She took a simple yard of pink nylon fabric with a white floral print forming diamonds and curved a sassy, spaghetti strapped, tunic matched with lime pantaloons.

The sari was arguably her best, with due respect to the fabulous kurtas, coats, and shalwar suits. They all bore Dewan’s signature patchwork and metallic bead embellishment.

 

 “The finished products” Chandona points out, “made me re-think entirely how one can transform simple fabric into something quite extraordinary only if one is creative enough.” She also adds, “I was pleasantly surprised with the oozing glamour of the finished outfits.”

Despite the statement these attires made, the fact remained that they are actually made from cheap fabric. But one has to really touch them to get a feel of the coarse quality — not something one would associate with haute couture. 

Some of the outfits were displayed for customers’ reactions and feedbacks. And they were an instant success. A client, who resides in the US, gave instant orders for a few. ”In the cold weather, synthetic fabrics are not a problem and the look is simply fabulous,” she said.